I just saw the story out of Australia about a judge issuing and order making a 9 year old girl a ward of the state so she can change her name from Talula does the hula in Hawaii.  My knee jerk reaction to the headline was "what business is it of the judge's?" but upon reading the story I saw that it was not a case of judicial over reach, but the application of a perfectly reasonable Australian law.  The law doesn't say children must be given good names, but that they can't be given names which a reasonable person would consider humiliating or which would cause the child to be an object of ridicule.  This law is the reason there aren't any Australians running around called Sex Fruit.

My favorite line in the story said that the girl's new name was not released, to protect her privacy.


"Talula Does the Hula!  I heard you changed your name?"

"Why in the world would I want to do that?"

"Oh sorry.  Must have been some other kid named Talula Does the Hula.  Can I copy your homework?"

"No, Whoopee Aftermath, not until you tell me what's wrong with my name!"

"Bite Me!"

"Yeah, go copy her homework before I Kick Your Ass."

"Oh man, I Kick Your Ass is so slow if she gets  it first I'll never have time before class starts."

 

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